State Law makers visit rural counties

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Utah Lawmakers touring Southeastern Utah stopped at the Museum of the San Rafael in Castle Dale in September. The three busloads of lawmakers were given an opportunity to observe the Utah desert and mountain landscapes of Emery County. Elected Emery County officials and members of the Emery County Public Lands Council traveled with the group to point out the advantages and plans for the future of Emery County.
They discussed the loss of coal mining jobs, the restrictions on power plants and the expanding of the Cleveland Dinosaur Quarry into a monument and expanding the Goblin Valley State Park.
Rep. Kay McIff commented, school Superintendent Kirk Sitterud and teacher Neal Peacock made a good case for the funding of small schools. This presentation was made during lunch in Green River earlier that day. Kay McIff had sponsored legislation in support of funding for small schools.
Superintendent Sitterud presented closing remarks to the legislators in Green River after a power point presentation outlining issues involved in rural schools.
“Since 1993 we have experienced a decline in enrollment, due mostly to the decline in the mining industry in Emery and Carbon counties, made worse by the economic downturn in about 2008-09.
“We have lost 36 percent of our student population and have eliminated over 100 FTE employee positions.
“If we were to take the peak enrollment years for each school, which occurred during the 1993-1995 time frame – we have declined 39 percent. In some schools that percent has been near 50 percent.
“When I became superintendent in 1989, my first instructions were something like this: “Congratulations on your appointment and by the way your first charge is to cut $750,000 from next year’s Budget.” This was in April of that year.
“Economic renewal is so critical to most of rural Utah. It is to us.
“Education in rural areas brings great challenges, it also brings great opportunities for educators to affect the lives of children and students on a personal level. Teachers become Heroes and Molder of dreams for many students that would not otherwise get that personal touch.
“While course offerings are limited, participation opportunities in those extracurricular activities that are available, are realized by many students who otherwise would not have that experience.
“I would also like to thank you as legislators for the hard work and the tough decisions you have to make each year and your concern and generosity to education during hard times. I would especially like to thank those Legislators who know and understand the importance of funding formulas, like the Necessarily Existent Small School’s Fund (NESS) and others, that give rural school students, like those at Green River High School, opportunities for education equity – And those legislators that know that students deserve a great education, regardless of where they live in this great state of Utah,” said Superintendent Sitterud.
Some of those lawmakers commented on the beautiful scenery of cathedral like spires and colorful rock formations as they traveled along Interstate 70 through the San Rafael Swell. Many of them had been to Lake Powell, but had not traveled through that area previously.
When the lawmakers arrived in Castle Dale at the Museum of the San Rafael, Emery County representatives and the Museum staff greeted them. Here they were treated to a snack of glazed donuts and ice cream arranged in the large meeting room of the museum. While at the museum, many lawmakers enjoyed wandering through the museum observing the exhibits and displays.
Commissioner Ethan Migliori welcomed the group to Emery County and thanked them for coming. He hoped that they enjoyed their visit to Emery County.
Wesley Curtis, the tour coordinator soon called the group to re-board the buses for the trip up Huntington Canyon to observe the burn scar and over Skyline Drive into Sanpete County.
Some of the Emery County people on the tour were Commissioner Ethan Migliori, former Commissioner Randy Johnson, former Commissioner JR Nelson, and Ray Petersen public lands director.
The legislators also visited Grand and Carbon counties on their tour.